Vehicle Display Ramps: Enhancing Vehicle Showcasing and Maintenance

When you want to display a car at a dealership, car show, or sports stadium, you can do so with a vehicle display ramp. While there are numerous methods you can use to showcase your vehicle or perform maintenance, a ramp gives you a more secure platform for your vehicle to rest on. When you’re searching for the best display ramp, they’re available in many different sizes and lengths.

While many of these ramps are available with a metallic frame design, others come in the shape of large rocks and are designed to pair well with the surrounding environment. Whether you’re looking to showcase your vehicle or perform much-needed maintenance, you should understand how vehicle display ramps work. The following guide takes a closer look at the many advantages of using vehicle display ramps.

Introduction

If you consider yourself a car enthusiast, it’s likely that you’ll prop up your vehicle at some point in your life. For instance, you might want to attend a car show to display your own vehicle. Owners of vintage makes and models often use ramps and other devices to enhance their vehicle while it’s being showcased.

Vehicle display ramps can also be highly advantageous when you’re looking to perform maintenance on your car. Taking your vehicle to an auto shop every time you need an oil change or a brake pad replacement can cost you a large sum of money over an extended period of time.

While jack stands and wheel cribs are commonly used to prop a vehicle up while it’s being maintained, there are downsides to both of these options. By using a ramp, you can keep your vehicle secure while you get underneath it to perform maintenance or repairs. If you regularly maintain your vehicle, you’ll benefit from a lengthier lifespan, less repairs, lower fuel costs, and more safety while driving.

While vehicle display ramps are available in many different shapes and sizes, they are all capable of lifting your vehicle anywhere from two to five feet into the air. The type of ramp you choose mainly depends on what you’re using it for. Sidewinder ramps will place your vehicle at an angle for better viewing and easier maintenance. More traditional ramps allow you to display either the back or front of your vehicle at a straight incline.

Benefits of Vehicle Display Ramps

There are numerous advantages associated with vehicle display ramps, the primary of which is that you’ll gain more visibility when showcasing your vehicle. If you’re set to display your car at a trade show or similar event, placing the vehicle on a ramp is a great way to immediately capture the attention of people walking by.

Putting your vehicle on a ramp also gives you more accessibility for undercarriage maintenance and inspections. Jack stands take up a considerable amount of space, which is why vehicle display ramps are sometimes preferable when performing maintenance. When you want to store or display your vehicle, ramps offer an extra layer of protection that keeps your vehicle at a safe height to avoid theft and other issues.

Types of Vehicle Display Ramps

There are three main types of vehicle display ramps that you can use with your car, which include:

• Fixed display ramps
• Adjustable display ramps
• Portable display ramps

Fixed Display Ramps

A fixed display ramp is the most commonly used ramp you can buy for your vehicle. These ramps have a larger design and are made to be fixed to a specific position while you display your vehicle. Once the ramp has been assembled, it’s difficult to move. These ramps are typically built with industrial-grade steel tubing to ensure the ramp lasts for a long time.

Since these ramps hold up well even in inclement weather, they’re often used for permanent installations. For instance, car dealerships use them to highlight specific vehicles and make them visible from the street. While different vehicles can be swapped in and out, the ramp usually remains in place. Fixed display ramps are most suitable for exhibits and showrooms.

Adjustable Display Ramps

Adjustable display ramps are built with many of the same materials as fixed display ramps. The primary difference is that these ramps can be adjusted when it comes to height and angle. Adjustments can be made in several different ways depending on the exact ramp you buy.

For instance, some adjustable ramps alter their position based on where the vehicle is located. As the car is moving up the ramp, it’s at an inclined position with the front of the car pointing upwards. Once it moves past a certain point, the weight of the car will push the back legs of the ramp up, which allows the vehicle to rest at a flat position around two to three feet off the ground. The car can continue moving forward to push the front down and the back up.

These ramps are ideal if you want to change how the vehicle is positioned during a showcase. Some adjustable display ramps allow for the angle to be changed, which means that one side can be placed at a greater height than the other side. Adjustable ramps provide versatility that accommodates different vehicle types and sizes.

Portable Display Ramps

Portable display ramps are designed to provide car owners and dealerships with a lightweight ramp. While these ramps are durable enough to keep many different types of vehicles in place, they’re built with a light aluminum material that doesn’t corrode or rust. Since these ramps have a collapsible design, you can store them with ease for the next event or showcase you attend. It’s possible for these ramps to extend to around three to four feet high. They’re ideal for events, car meets, and other temporary displays.

Factors to Consider when Choosing Vehicle Display Ramps

When you’re choosing your next vehicle display ramp, there are several factors you should consider, the primary of which include:

• Weight capacity and load ratings
• Stability and durability
• Storage and portability

Make sure you know how much weight a ramp supports before you buy one. Calculate the weight of your vehicle to ensure you meet the ramp’s load ratings. Fixed and adjustable display ramps that are built with stainless steel construction often provide more stability and durability in comparison to portable ramps.

However, portable ramps are easy to move around and store when you’re done with them. The ramp that’s right for you depends on what it’s being used for. If the ramp is set to be used for a permanent installation, a fixed display ramp is the way to go.

Safety Considerations for Vehicle Display Ramps

Before you start using a vehicle display ramp, there are a few safety considerations you should keep in mind. For instance, make sure you perform the proper setup and positioning for the ramp in question. Regardless of the position your vehicle is placed in, it must have secure anchoring and support to ensure it remains in place even when at a sharp angle.

If you buy a high-quality vehicle display ramp, it should last for years. However, it’s impossible to predict when a product will be defective, which is why it’s highly recommended that you conduct regular maintenance and inspections to make sure the ramp continues to be in great condition.

Tips for Effective Vehicle Display Using Ramps

Effectively displaying your vehicle with a ramp isn’t always as easy as it appears. For instance, you’ll need to find the optimal positioning for maximum visibility. Most dealerships and car shows choose to position the front of the vehicle at an incline of two to three feet. However, you might be able to obtain better visibility by choosing an adjustable display ramp and placing one side of the vehicle at an incline of four feet and the other at an incline of five feet.

Look for ramps that offer more unique features and details. As mentioned previously, some of these ramps are designed to look like large rocks. In this scenario, you could drive the front of the vehicle up the incline. Passersby would feel like the truck’s driving up a mountain. Consider using lighting and backdrop options to emphasize the vehicle’s design.

Vehicle Display Ramps vs. Other Display Methods

Even though vehicle display ramps offer many unique advantages, there are several additional display methods you can use to showcase your vehicle or perform maintenance. For instance, you could place vehicle jacks and stands at certain points around the vehicle to prop it up. This option is widely used when maintaining or repairing a vehicle.

Since vehicle jacks and stands are relatively small, you can use them to jack up a single wheel or side of your car, which is helpful when maintaining your vehicle. The main drawback to using jack stands for display purposes is that they look like they’ve come right out of the mechanic’s shop, which might not pair well with your car’s aesthetics.

You could also use flatbeds and vehicle lifts to display your car or truck. Lifts can either be hydraulic or electric. Regardless of the type of lift you choose, it’s possible to lift your vehicle many feet into the air. While vehicle lifts are simple to use, they can also be bulky and may take up too much space. The same is true when using a flatbed truck. However, this option is ideal if you want to easily control the ramp’s incline. As long as your vehicle is properly secured, you can easily adjust the vehicle’s angle from the driver’s seat of the flatbed.

Conclusion

Whether you’re displaying your vehicle at a car show or promoting a vehicle at a sporting event, vehicle display ramps give you full control over how it’s showcased. Once you place your vehicle on a ramp, you should find it easy to access the underside when you need to perform maintenance.

As a car enthusiast, using a ramp is a great way to showcase and maintain your vehicle. No matter the type of ramp you’re interested in, it’s important that you prioritize safety when using one and choose the right ramp for your specific needs.